April 16, 2008

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that she will travel to Israel and Kuwait to meet with company leaders and encourage them to invest and grow in Michigan.  The mission, scheduled April 30 to May 8, will be the governor's sixth overseas investment mission since 2004.  Granholm's previous investment missions to Germany, Austria, Japan, and Sweden have resulted in 37 companies announcing over $818 million in new investment and more than 9,000 jobs created and retained.  Michigan Economic Development Corporation President and CEO James C. Epolito and other economic development officials will accompany Granholm on the mission.

"International investment missions are part of our economic plan to go anywhere and do anything to bring jobs to Michigan," Granholm said.  "In the last five years, we have gone overseas to bring to Michigan new investment and jobs from global companies looking to expand their presence or open their doors in North America.  Now, with a host of new business tools, combined with our world-renown workforce, we have an even stronger case to make."  

While in Israel and Kuwait, Granholm will meet with leaders of the countries' advanced manufacturing, alternative energy, homeland security/defense, and water treatment technology sectors, which include government and company officials, to develop partnerships and encourage companies to do business in Michigan.

"News of Michigan's exciting transformation is reaching a global audience," Epolito said.  "This mission will allow us to continue our concerted efforts to showcase our state as a growing high-tech hot spot and the best place in North America for international companies to do business."

Following the governor's missions to Japan in 2005 and 2006, 21 companies stated their intent to expand in Michigan, including DENSO, Konica Minolta, Meiden American, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Tokai Rika for a total investment of $339.4 million and 2,248 jobs created and retained. 

Granholm's investment missions to Germany in 2004 and Germany/Austria in 2007 resulted in several companies announcing investments totaling $397 million and 4,532 jobs created and retained, including Behr America, Eberspacher, Bosch, Karmann, Mahle, FACTON, Kostal, MBTech Autodie, and AVL.  Her mission to Sweden and Germany in 2007 resulted in Atlas Copco, SECO Tools, MS Precision Welding, Brose, Behr-Hella and EDAG announcing $82 million in new investments and 2,397 jobs created and retained.

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